Re: How to capture composite video
On Fri, 28 May 2021 13:45:35 -0400
Dan Ritter <dsr@randomstring.org> wrote:
> Charlie Gibbs wrote:
> > [copy of posting to comp.os.linux.misc]
> >
> > References: <s7pfr30196f@news1.newsguy.com>
> > <atk9nh-fs1.ln1@aretha.foo>
> >
> > On 2021-05-17, Peter 'Shaggy' Haywood <phaywood@alphalink.com.au>
> > wrote:
> > > mencoder tv:// -tv \
> > > driver=4vl2:input=1:norm=pal:width=720:height=576:fps=25 \
> > > -endpos 1:30:00 -ovc lavc -oac copy -lavcopts vcodec=mpeg4 \
> > > -o filename.avi
> >
> > I finally found the time to do some more experimenting. The example
> > above is a good starting point. I found that I can watch VHS tapes
> > (or whatever else is plugged into the composite video input) on my
> > machine with the following command:
> >
> > mplayer tv:// -tv
> > driver=v4l2:input=1:norm=NTSC-M:width=720:height=480
> >
> > Tuner cap: STEREO LANG1 LANG2
> > Tuner rxs: MONO
> > Capabilities: video capture VBI capture device tuner read/write
> > streaming
> > inputs: 0 = Television; 1 = Composite1; 2 = S-Video;
> > Current input: 1
> > Current format: UYVY
> > v4l2: current audio mode is : MONO
> > Audio: no sound
> >
> > Note the "Audio: no sound" line. I still have to figure that one
> > out to get beyond silent movies. Any hints?
>
> Yes: composite video doesn't carry audio at all. Your VCR has
> either mono or stereo RCA audio output jacks, and you can plug
> them into a stereo RCA-> 1/8" stereo headphone plug or adapter
> cable to bring it into your sound card. Possibly your video
> capture card has a separate jack for that?
Typically red and white phono connectors are left and right audio,
yellow is composite video. The S-Video connector is normally a four-pin
mini-DIN connector, and also doesn't carry audio.
>
> Input 0 is probably RF-frequency NTSC with a tuner to select
> channels. That's low-quality, but includes audio.
>
> Input 2 is S-Video, which is the best of the available video
> connections if your VCR supports it. (I have one that does... if
> it still powers up.)
--
Joe
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